Sunday, December 08, 2013

Commemorated on December 8
The Holy Martyrs of Africa (62 Clergy and 300 Laypeople):
They suffered in the time of the emperor Zeno (474-491). Guneric, the
ruler of the Vandal kingdom in North Africa, came under the influence of
heretical Arian bishops and began a fierce persecution against the
Orthodox.

When believers had gathered at one of the churches and
secretly celebrated the Divine Liturgy, barbarian soldiers burst into
the church. Some of the worshippers fled, but 300 men voluntarily gave
themselves over to torture and were beheaded. Of the clergy, two were
burned, and sixty had their tongues cut out. By a miraculous Divine
power they continued to preach and to oppose the Arian heresy.

They all endured horrible torments, but remained faithful to Christ and His holy Church.